Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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377. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the position regarding a bog which has been included in the NHA area (details supplied); if same can be cut by seeking appropriate permission; and if his Department is interested in purchasing some of the said bog from the owners thereof who may be willing to sell same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17418/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Areas, which is available to download from my Department’s website at , provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on all those raised bog NHAs which are to be conserved, including the bog referred to by the Deputy. In the case of this bog, the review envisages the cessation of turf cutting on the site by 1 January 2017 to preserve its conservation value. Turf-cutting may continue on the bog until that date, on plots that have been cut in the five year period prior to the Government decision of 14 January 2014 in relation to the Review.

To ensure that cutting does not intensify over the next 3 years, owners of plots or of turbary rights who have cut over the past 5 years must obtain a permit from my Department. Contractors will also be obliged to obtain permits. My Department has written to all property holders who could be identified in relation to the NHA raised bogs to inform them of the results of the Review, including arrangements for obtaining permits to continue cutting and/or applying for compensation. In addition, notices outlining the outcome of the Review have been placed in local papers.

Any turf-cutter required to cease turf-cutting on an NHA is being offered compensatory measures similar to those available to turf-cutters from raised bog Special Areas of Conservation. Such compensation will be available to qualifying persons with effect from 2014.

The maximum payment available under the scheme is €23,000, made up of payments of €1,500 per annum (index linked) over 15 years with a once-off incentive payment of €500, upon completion of a legal agreement with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.As an alternative to financial payments and, where feasible, qualifying turf cutters will be facilitated in relocating to alternative non-designated sites to continue cutting turf.

Qualifying applicants who wish to take up the option of relocation may receive compensation until such time as alternative sites can be provided and the terms of the relocation will take into account any compensation received under the compensation scheme. These applicants may opt for the payment of €1,500, index-linked, or a supply of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum, while awaiting relocation.

Application forms for the compensation scheme or for permits to continue cutting over the next 3 years are available from my Department. Relevant contact details are published on my Department’s websites.

My Department operated a voluntary bog purchase scheme, under which individuals with a legal interest in special areas of conservation or natural heritage areas could apply to sell their interest in these sites to my Department at set rates. This scheme is currently closed to new applicants. My Department is considering the position of those who had applied to sell their plots on NHA Raised Bogs before the scheme closed.